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New River Notes

January 6, 2013

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Collection of historic and current photos mostly covering the upper New River area of southwestern Virginia and nortwestern North Carolina

Smyth County, VA People

benblevins.jpg676 viewsBen H. Blevins
MARION – Elder Ben H. Blevins, age 83, died Sunday,
March 12, 2006, at Smyth County Community Hospital.
He was born Oct. 18, 1922, in Crumpler, W.Va., the
seventh of 14 children born to the late Elder Hugh M.
Blevins Sr. and Lelia Perry Blevins. He was also
preceded in death by one grandchild, Julie Blevins
Whitt, this past December.
In 1958, he and his brother-in-law, Blaine Dancy,
opened Marion Alignment Service, which he owned and
operated until his retirement in 1984. He was a
minister, pastoring Hopkins View Primitive Baptist
Church for 32 years. He also pastored Zion Primitive
Baptist Church, near Sparta, N.C., along with Mulberry
and Cross Roads Primitive Baptist Churches in Wilkes
County, N.C. and New Garden Primitive Baptist Church
in Honaker. He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran
and front line soldier, landing at Normandy, and
fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was wounded in
action at the battle for the Remagen Bridge, when the
American forces had to temporarily pull back. He and
another soldier stayed behind to dig children out of a
bombed orphanage.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Violet Dancy
Blevins; four sons, Larry and wife Frankie Blevins,
Don and wife Pat Blevins, Alan J. and wife Debbie
Blevins and Greg and wife Kim Blevins, all of Marion;
one brother, Elder Hugh M. Blevins Jr. of Auburndale,
Fla.; eight grandchildren, Jill Blevins Tanner and
husband Russ, of Roanoke and Benjamin R. Blevins and
wife Amy, Jordon Blevins, Joel Blevins, Zachary
Blevins, Andy Blevins, John Blevins and Lynsey
Blevins, all of Marion; and six great-grandchildren,
Jonah, Isaiah and Ethan Blevins and Erin, Devon and
Laura Tanner.
The family wishes to thank the residents and staff of
Francis Marion Manor Nursing Home, staff of Smyth
County Community Hospital and his special friend and
caregiver, Shelia Russell of Marion.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 15,
2006, at 8 p.m. at Seaver-Brown Chapel, with Elders
Danny Smith, Willie Branch and Eddie Lyle officiating.
The family will receive friends Wednesday from 5 p.m.
until the time of the service at Seaver-Brown Chapel.
A graveside service will be held Thursday, March 16,
2006, at the Thomas Cemetery, Marion, at 11 a.m.,
where military rites will be conducted by Francis
Marion VFW Post 4667. Expressions of sympathy may be
made to the family at www.seaverbrown.com.
Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory is serving
the Blevins family.

Published in the Bristol Herald Courier on 3/14/2006.

Blevins, Joseph596 viewsHe was the son of Garfield Blevins and Mattie Weaver.